Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi. Ruling CPI-M MLA M. Mukesh and prominent Malayalam film personalities including actor Jayasurya have been booked for rape and sexual harassment, following which the ruling coalition on Thursday demanded that Mukesh should resign from the assembly. Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Annie Raja said that Mukesh no longer has any legal or moral standing to continue as an MLA as a rape case has been filed against him. She appealed to the MLA to step down.
Mukesh has been booked after an actress accused him of sexually harassing her several years ago. Popular Malayalam actors Jayasurya and Maniyanpilla Raju have also been booked in separate cases of sexual harassment, police said on Thursday. The entire incident is believed to be linked to the shocking findings of Justice K Hema Committee report.
The complainant, who has worked in some films, has accused well-known actor and MLA M. Mukesh, Jayasurya and Maniyanpilla Raju, besides Idavela Babu, who plays a prominent role in the actors’ union, of sexual abuse. The actress wrote in a post on Facebook, “I am writing this post to report incidents of physical and verbal abuse against me by Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, Jayasurya, Chandrasekaran, production controller Noble and Vichu in the Malayalam film industry.”
The actress wrote, “While working on a project in 2013, these persons physically and verbally harassed me. I tried to cooperate and continue working, but this abuse became intolerable.” An FIR was registered against Mukesh under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code at Maradu police station in Kochi city on Wednesday night. Police said that the case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code because the alleged crime took place before the implementation of the Indian Justice Code.
Senior CPI(M) leader and former minister K.K. Shailaja said that if it is proved that the allegations against party MLA M. Mukesh are true, then he has no right to continue as MLA. Shailaja said that in view of the report of Justice Hema Committee, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently investigating all the allegations against Mukesh and other cases. She said that after the SIT submits its report, the government will take appropriate action in this matter.
Shailaja said, “If he has committed any crime, he is not eligible to remain in his post. But right now we are in the initial stage of investigation and we cannot say whether he should resign or not.” Annie Raja said, “Now that a case has been registered against him (Mukesh), he has no moral or legal basis to remain in that post. He should resign from his post as MLA.”
He said, “This step will be in line with the state government’s efforts to ensure a safe environment for women while working in the film industry in view of the findings and recommendations of the Hema Committee.” The CPI leader said that if Mukesh does not resign from the post of MLA, the “honest” efforts of the state government will be hampered. He said, “This will also affect the image of the state government. The Left Front is a supporter of women.” Amid the opposition’s sharp attack on LDF MLAs, the alliance said that the Congress MLAs facing rape charges have not resigned.
LDF convenor E P Jayarajan said neither the CPI(M) nor the Left government will protect the wrongdoers in any of the cases filed in connection with the allegations against various actors and directors. Reporters had asked Jayarajan whether Mukesh would resign or not. Jayarajan said that earlier two other MLAs had been booked in major sexual harassment cases and they have not resigned. He was referring to Congress MLAs M Vincent and Eldhose Kunnapilly.
Jayarajan said, “If he had resigned, the third MLA (Mukesh) would also have had to resign. The law applies equally to all MLAs. You are demanding Mukesh’s resignation and protecting the other two MLAs.” When he was told that some CPI leaders, including Annie Raja, had demanded Mukesh’s resignation, Jayarajan said, “Anyone can demand anything.” Jayarajan said that the Left government in the state has taken effective and strict steps to ensure women’s safety and the safety of the film industry in view of the Justice Hema Committee report.
He said the moral standard of the government is high as the case against Mukesh has been registered under non-bailable provisions.
Jayaraj said, “The government will neither protect nor show leniency towards any wrongdoer. Strict action will be taken against them, no matter who they are. The government always takes the right stand. You just wait and watch.” Earlier, the Thiruvananthapuram Museum Police on Wednesday registered a case against actor Siddiqui for raping an actress in a hotel eight years ago.
Earlier, a case was registered against director Ranjit under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) on the complaint of an actress from West Bengal. This complaint has been made in relation to an incident of 2009. The report of the Justice Hema Committee constituted by the Kerala government after the attack on an actress in the year 2017 has revealed cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.
Malayalam actor Mukesh gets relief from arrest in rape case
A Kochi court on Thursday granted protection from arrest to rape accused actor and MLA K Mukesh and directed the police not to arrest him till September 3. CPI(M) MLA from Kollam Mukesh has been accused of sexual harassment by an actress a few years ago, following which a rape case was registered against him on August 28. After this, Mukesh pleaded for anticipatory bail in the court. The Principal Sessions Court here granted interim relief to Mukesh, saying that the actor is unlikely to flee from the law.
The court said in its order, “Keeping in view the situation that there is no possibility of escaping the clutches of law, the IO (Investigating Officer) is directed not to arrest the petitioner till 3/9/24.” The actor claimed in his anticipatory bail plea that the statement given by the victim against him is of malicious intent. He claimed that the case was registered with a hidden motive and to harm his political and film career.